Carol Vorderman: My brother, the hero who overcame hardship

Countdown star praises her 'brave' brother who was born with a cleft palate

Former Countdown star Carol Vorderman has revealed how she idolises her millionaire big brother – after he overcame the hardships of being born with a cleft palate.

The 53-year-old maths whiz, who’s been the chair of The Cleft Lip & Palate Association (Clapa) for 12 years, also confided that one of her most vivid early memories was of the way others reacted to Anton’s appearance as they were both growing up in Prestatyn.

“Anton had been born with a cleft palate and a double hare lip and, by the time he’d become a teenager, countless operations had left him with a noticeable deformity,” she said.

“And, when I was six and he was 14, I remember strolling together down the local high street and seeing people gawking and doing double- takes as we went by. My cheeks would burn with indignation.”

She added that Anton’s condition also had a profound effect on how he’d behave as a result.

Carol Vorderman's brother Anton

“Our dad left us when I was just three weeks old, and Anton, who’d become too shy to even go out, stayed with me in our tiny flat and became something of a father figure.

“It was him who taught me to who taught me to play chess and do sums.

“We spent a lot of time together and, were it not for that I might never have gone to Cambridge or had the courage to audition for Countdown.”

Vorderman added that when Anton was born he was taken away from his mother and she was forbidden from seeing him for five days. It wasn’t until he was four weeks that she was allowed to hold him - by which time he’d lost so much weight doctors thought he might not survive.

But now she considers him the true success story of her family, having become a millionaire property developer and founder of the charity ECO, which helps to change the lives of children born with cleft palates in Europe.

And, with 1,000 children being born in the UK with the condition, Vorderman told The Sun her brother’s work has now prompted her to take matters into her own hands.

“At the end of last year I decided to have a massive closet clear-out because there were hundreds of designer gowns and one-off outfits hanging untouched. My dressing up days are behind me, so what better way to close the door on one era of my life and raise money for Clapa.

“And, as always, Anton’s brave face is there to inspire men on – smiling through the pain.”

The star is auctioning her clothes through hardlyeverwornit.com. More outfits are due to go on sale soon.

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